USA > Kentucky > A history of Kentucky and Kentuckians; the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume III > Part 32
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JOSIAH MOSS TERRY .- The ancestry of Josiah Moss Terry as far back as their history can be traced in the annals of America are noted for the sterling traits of character which mark the valuable citizen of this great republic. At all times they have been ready to uphold righteous and just laws, to promote the welfare of the land of their nativity, and, if needful, to
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lay down their lives on the altar of her liberty and maintenance.
Josiah Moss Terry, treasurer and secretary of the Sinking Fund Commission of the city of Louisville, is a native of the Blue Grass state, having been born in Glasgow, Barren county, Kentucky, on March 11, 1843, the son of John and Mary Jane ( Moss) Terry. Mr. Terry, our subject, is the descendant of an old and dis- tinguished American family, and a brief ac- count of his immediate ancestors will not be inappropriate in this sketch. His great-grand- father, Nathaniel Terry, of Antrim Parish, Halifax county, Virginia, was appointed a justice of the peace by Governor Dinwiddie, and afterwards sheriff of the county. He was for some years a member of the House of Burgesses, a member of the Virginia Conven- tion of May 6, 1776, and was present when Patrick Henry made his famous speech on that occasion. His bonds as sheriff of Halifax county, given to George III, are still on record in the archives of Virginia. The records also show that he presided in the last court held by the justices under King George III, April term, 1776, and at the first court held under the commonwealth of Virginia, July 18, 1776. His military record in the Revolutionary war is as follows: Nathaniel Terry, Virginia, First Lieutenant, Fourteenth Virginia, December 2, 1776. Regiment designated Tenth Virginia, September 14, 1778. Captain Lieutenant, March 12, 1779. Regiment Quartermaster, March 31, 1779. Captain, December 15, 1779. Taken prisoner at Charleston May 12, 1780. Transferred and sent to Virginia, February 12, 1781, and served until the close of the war. His son, William Morris Terry, was the grand- father of Josiah Moss Terry and was a pioneer of Kentucky, settling in Todd county at an early date. John Terry, the father of our sub- ject, came to Louisville with his family when Josiah was quite young and engaged in mer- cantile business.
Josiah M. Terry received his education in the schools of Louisville and began a business career in 1859. In 1862 he was appointed a - captain of commissary of subsistence in the United States army, which position he held until 1865, when he resigned from the service. During his connection with the department a very large part of the supplies for the entire Federal forces passed through Mr. Terry's hands. After his resignation, he entered his father's grocery store in Louisville and con- tinued there until January 1, 1873. On August I, 1875, Mr. Terry was chosen treasurer and secretary of the Sinking Fund Commission, which position he now holds.
Ever true to the duties of citizenship, taking
a lively interest in all that affects the welfare of his city and state, it is but natural that Mr. Terry should have been called upon to serve in positions of distinctive public trust and respon- sibility. His purpose has ever been commend- able, his actions manly, his conduct sincere and above all his life has been influenced by a sense of conscientious obligation concerning his relations to his fellow men and his duties of citizenship.
REV. N. N. GOSSELIN .- The life of the sub- ject of this sketch has been one of signal ac- .tivity and devotion in the field of his labor and he has worked for the good of his parish and his fellow beings along the paths of upright- ness, religion and education with a zeal which has made his life one worthy of emulation. He has not only shown marked capability and earnestness in his clerical work but has mani- fested an administrative ability which has been potent in insuring the temporal welfare of his parish, and he is held in high esteem for his devotion to the cause and for his able service in his holy calling as a priest of the church.
Father Gosselin, pastor of the Holy Family Catholic church at Ashland, was born in St. Pierre D'Orleans, Quebec, Canada, in 1846, the son of Laurent and Marguerite (God- bout) Gosselin, also natives of Canada, whose ancestors came from Normandy and were of French descent. His father was a farmer and he and his wife made their home in Canada during their lives. Our subject was reared on the farm and assisted through many days of hard work. He attended the pa- rochial school and later became a student at Quebec and also at Bourbonnais, Illinois, at St. Viateur College. He graduated and was ordained in 1882 for the diocese of Cov- ington, Kentucky. He was appointed assist- ant priest at Ashland, Kentucky, of the Holy Family Parish in 1882, and a year later be- came pastor at Verona, Kentucky. In 1886 he was sent to Jellico, Tennessee, and two years later returned to Ashland as pastor, where he has since remained. To his energy is due much of the good and successful condi- tion of the church and parish affairs generally.
It will be interesting to read a slight sketch of the history of the church with which Fa- ther Gosselin has been connected for over twenty-two years. Prior to the organization of the church in Ashland missionary services were held by Bishop Gilmour, of Cleveland, and Father Oswald, of Covington, Kentucky, the latter being the first missionary there. In 1854 a lot was bought by Father O'Neil at the time Ashland was laid out, and in 1856 a small brick church was built, which was later
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used for school purposes. The first resident priest was Father H. G. Allan in 1859, suc- ceeded by Father Lambert Young in 1863, the next in turn being Father McInerny.
In 1867 the foundation of the new church was laid by Father C. L. O'Brien, and was completed by him in 1876. Under his ad- ministration he bought most of the lots which now comprise the entire city block occupied by the church and buildings. The church is still in use and is one of the finest in the town. Father O'Brien did much in developing the early work in the church. In 1878 Father L. G. Clermont became pastor and governed the parish until 1888, and during this time he built the parochial residence. Father Cler- mont was a man much beloved by all who knew, and came in contact with him. In 1878 begins the record of events that have been accomplished by the Sisters of St. Frances, those women whose entire lives are devoted to others and their needs. The beginning was a school established in the old church building and a small frame structure. The school pro- gressed to such an extent that more accom- modation was necessary and in 1891 the pres- ent fine, modern, two-story brick school building was erected, under the administration of Father N. N. Gosselin, who succeeded Fa- ther Clermont in 1888 and has continued to serve ever since.
The sisters have accomplished much good; Sister Matilda had the honor of establishing the first school; Sister Anastasia is still the principal and head of the commercial depart- ment, which she established fifteen years ago, and she has no doubt done more for the suc- cess of the school than any other person of the acknowledged benefactors of the institu- tion; Sister Assisi, who is the head of the musical department, which position she has held for a number of years, is one of the most successful teachers in the school. There is also a primary department in connection with the school. In 1900 the sisters' residence was built by Father Gosselin, the building and grounds modern and up to date. The parish and congregation are prosperous and in a mnost encouraging condition, and consists of about two hundred families.
Father Gosselin has contributed largely to the development and success during the past twenty years to the schools and church, dur- ing which time the beautiful grounds and modern buildings have been established. He has been indefatigable in promoting the growth both of the temporal and spiritual welfare of the parish over which he is placed in charge, a man of high intellectuality, his life has been useful as a priest and man and
this resume of his career will be read with interest to all who have had cognizance of his efforts.
JOHN HENRY MASON is a man held in high respect and consideration in this part of Ken- tucky, the worthy son of a father whose name stood for citizenship of the highest character. At present one of the foremost agriculturists and cattle raisers of Montgomery county, he has in the past been identified with many im- portant enterprises, among these being the founding of that well-known sheet, the Mt. Sterling Advocate. Mr. Mason was born in the county which still claims his residence, the date of his nativity having been Septem- ber 2, 1843. He was the son of Captain John Mason, whose career will be briefly sketched in ensuing paragraphs, and of his wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Henry.
Mr. Mason's father was summoned to the life eternal when he was a lad but twelve years of age and he was reared by his guard- ian, William Scott. He received his education in the private school of I. W. Fox, and his youth, like that of the other young men of the day, was marred by the bitter strife and dis- sension which preceded the Civil war, when about every fireside in the land, in the conver- sation of friends and neighbors, and deeper still, in the secret of millions of human hearts, the battle of opinion was waging. When the first guns were fired at Fort Sumter Mr. Ma- son twice tried to enlist, and failing, returned home.
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He married very early, before he became eighteen years of age, Margaret C. Nelson becoming his bride on March 13, 1862. Mrs. Mason was born at Grassy Lick and is the daughter of William and Ann (Smith) Nel- son.
Compared to the usual young couple Mr. and Mrs. Mason were very well equipped when they cast their barque upon the seas of matrimony, having about three thousand dol- lars in capital, and before Mr. Mason had reached his twentieth year he also owned about two hundred acres of land. Their home place was that of Mrs. Mason's father and she had twenty-five acres in her own right. There the subject began his agricultural endeavors and by the exercise of hard work and thrift he came to own seven hundred acres of fine land.
In 1885 Mr. Mason removed to Louisville to educate his children, but found the step to have been inexpedient in some respects, for he was too far away from his farm to be able to give it sufficient oversight. Consequently in 1886 he brought his goods and chattels to Mt. Sterling, where for two years he dealt in
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tobacco. It was in 1890 that he and Dr. C. about the year 1785. With his family this W. Harris organized and founded the Mt. . pioneer settled in Fayette county, but the son Sterling Advocate, which was speedily recog- nized as a live and progressive publication, and they successfully presided over its des- tinies until the year 1893, when they sold it. who was also his namesake settled in Mont- gomery county when young and there fol- lowed building and contracting. By the exer- cise of infinite energy, thrift and industry he accumulated money enough to purchase a farm two miles northwest of Mt. Sterling, and upon this homestead he kept "bachelor's hall" for many years and dispensed a most generous hospitality. He was a man of business acu- men and far sighted in his farming, and he was convinced of the advisability of keeping the best breed of horses, cattle, sheep and jacks. It was one of his keenest interests and at one time he paid the unprecedented price of five hundred dollars for an imported Me- rino ram, while it was likewise his distinction to introduce the breeding and rearing of jack and jennet stock in Montgomery county.
Some one has defined success as accepting the worst that fate can deal and winning cour- age from it and not despair, and by this test Mr. Mason has been the most successful of men. His career had previously been plain sailing, but now through a disastrous invest- ment in mining stock he lost at one time fif- teen thousand dollars, having sold his farm in the meantime. The hard times of 1893 also crippled him severely, but in the face of these trials he never lost his courage. In 1893 he had sufficiently recovered from his losses to purchase two hundred and seventy-five acres of his old farm, and upon that tract he and his family took up their residence. This he has improved to the highest point and it is considered to be one of the best kept and cleanest farms in the county. For some years before he left his farm Mr. Mason was en- gaged in the Short Horn cattle business, and his particular pride at the present is his corn, which has taken several premiums. He en- gages for the most part in general farming.
Mr. and Mrs. Mason have given twelve good citizens to the United States, two of them being deceased. The following is an enumeration: Nelson, a citizen of Bourbon county ; Dr. C. L., who is deceased; James F., who lives in DeSoto, Kansas; Anna, wife of J. C. Ramsey, a resident of Winchester, Kentucky; Elizabeth, wife of W. H. Ramsey, of Montgomery county, Kentucky; Robert A., of Grassy Lick, Kentucky; Fannie J., de- ceased; Talitha Cuma, wife of C. D. Powell, of Florida; Mary P., wife of Oliver Howell, of Mt. Sterling, Kentucky; Luther, of Mont- gomery county; Allie F., wife of Herbert Coppage, of Chicago, Illinois; and W. A., of Montgomery county. Mr. and Mrs. Mason are members of the Grassy Lick Methodist Episcopal church, South, and are generous supporters of its many good causes. He is part and parcel of the so-called "Solid South," having ever given allegiance to the Democrat- ic party.
Captain John Mason, father of John Henry Mason, was a native of Virginia, having been born in Spottsylvania county, Virginia, Feb- ruary 29, 1776, shortly after the shot was fired "which echoed round the world." His parents were John and Anna Shirley, the fa- ther being a Revolutionary soldier, who at the close of the war emigrated to Kentucky, prob- ably setting stake in the Blue Grass state
He was a loyal patriotic American, of the sort the nation likes to call typical, and his patriotism was by no means of the merely rhetorical order. In 1813, at the time of the war with Great Britain, he raised a volunteer company of which he was made lieutenant. He accumulated property and at one time was the owner of more horses and lots in Mt. Sterling than any other one man, and many of these at his death passed as a heritage to his children.
In 1824, through the failure of Colonel Thomas Dye Owings, to whom he was largely bound as surety, he became involved in finan- cial troubles from which his sound practical sense and unconquerable will rescued him without serious loss. Colonel Owings' failure was for sixty thousand dollars.
The distinguishing traits of Captain Ma- son's character were his indomitable courage, his love of truth, his freedom from guile and his devotion to his friends-truly an equip- ment difficult to surpass in nobility. If his friends had faults Captain Mason was the last to see them and he never deserted them in their hour of need, and although he may have been implacable toward his enemies, he was never unjust to them. Politically he was a Democrat of the straightest type, a state's rights man of the Jeffersonian school. His stability and worth were recognized and he was elected and served Montgomery county in the lower branch of the legislature. Many years before his death this estimable gentle- man joined the Christian church, and he died a consistent member of its communion on Au- gust 25, 1855.
Captain Mason married late in life, the noble woman who became his wife and the mother of his children being Elizabeth, the
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daughter of Captain John and Rebecca Henry. The marriage of Captain and Mrs. Henry was celebrated September 22, 1836, and six chil- dren were born to them. Anna became the wife of of James W. Cluke, of Caldwell coun- ty, Kentucky, and survives him. Emily mar- ried J. D. Hazelrigg and lives in Mt. Sterling. Elizabeth. widow of H. G. Hurt, resides in Montgomery county. John H. was the fourth in order of birth. Andrew J. died in 1854. James W. resides in Montgomery county. Mrs. Mason married again, her second hus- band being William M. Patton and the date of their union May 14, 1857. To this union was born one son, now deceased.
Captain Mason received his education in the old Transylvania College at Lexington, from which famous institution he was gradu- ated. He was a contractor at one time, work- ing in Frankfort, Kentucky. In addition to his service in the war of 1812 he also served in the Mexican war, as a member of the Twenty-eighth Kentucky Regiment, and he later served as captain under Andrew Jack- son.
HUGH W. POAGE .- In the city which rep- resented his home during practically his en- tire life occurred the birth and death of Hugh William Poage, who was descended from the old pioneer Poages, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, who immigrated to the United States in the early Colonial era of our national history and representatives of whom were prominent in public affairs in Virginia, whence a colony came to Kentucky about the year 1781. Con- cerning the Poage family further data are given in the sketch dedicated to Hugh Calvin Poage, father of him whose name introduces this review.
Hugh William Poage was born at Ashland, Boyd county, Kentucky, on the 22d of August, 1854, the year the city was founded and platted. His death occurred on the 3d of June, 1904. He was the oldest child of Hugh Calvin and Sarah (Davenport) Poage, and concerning his brothers and sisters the following brief record is here incorporated- Nannie Rebecca died at the age of six months; Minnie is the wife of J. H. Eba and resides at Ashland; Margaret Anna is on the staff of the Ashland Daily Independent and main- tains her home in this city; Thomas Hoge is
a druggist in the city of Chicago, Illinois; James is an attorney in the same city; Vir- ginia is the wife of F. R. Henderson, a whole- sale grocer at Ashland; Katharine is the wife of E. H. Townsend, of Cleremont county, Ohio; Louise is a popular and successful teacher in the public schools of Boyd county, Kentucky ; and Robert H. is a resident of Los
Angeles, California. Mr. Poage, of this notice, received but meager educational train- ing in his youth and when eighteen years of age he began to work on the wharf boat at Ashland, continuing to be thus engaged for several years and eventually serving in the capacity of freight clerk and collector. Dur- ing 1875-6 he was employed at the Buena Vista and Princess Iron furnaces by the firm of Culbertson, Means & Culbertson, leading iron manufacturers at that time. From 1883 to 1885 he worked in the internal revenue of- fice of central Kentucky and while thus en- gaged he began the study of law. On retir- ing from the revenue service he returned to his home in Ashland, where he was admitted to the bar of the state in December, 1886, after examination by Circuit Judge John M. Burns, Colonel L. T. Moore and Colonel F. H. Bruning. He initiated the active practice of his profession at Ashland and in a short time succeeded in building up a large and lucrative clientage, in whose behalf he ex- erted his every energy, proving an able and versatile attorney and skilled counselor. In 1890 he was elected to the office of city at- torney of Ashland and in 1893 he was chosen as his own successor for a term of four years. Subsequently he was elected to fill the unex- pired term of W. S. Hager as county judge, to which office he was later re-elected, being incumbent thereof at the time of his death, in 1904. He had previously served with the utmost efficiency as a member of the city council, in which connection he did much to advance the general welfare and to introduce various needed improvements for the good of the city.
During his residence in Ashland Judge Poage was engaged in the insurance business for some twenty-six years and at the time of his demise he had the oldest agency in the city. He was a man universally admired, respected and beloved by his fellow men, was genial, jovial, the acme of honesty and gen- erally a prime favorite in the city which so long represented his home. He was a splen- did lawyer, a sagacious politician and above all a friend to the poor and downtrodden. Politically he was a staunch Republican and he manifested a deep and sincere interest in public affairs early in life, doing much for the success of his party and for the victory of his political friends. In a fraternal way he was affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Knights of Pythias and the Knights of the Maccabees, in each of which he was a valued and appreciative member.
On the Ist of April, 1881, was celebrated
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the marriage of Judge Poage to Miss Lau- retta Shaw, a native of Gallipolis, Ohio, and a daughter of John W. and Ariadne (Jef- fers) Shaw. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Poage were early pioneers in the old Buckeye state, where representatives of the family were identified principally with agri- cultural pursuits. Judge and Mrs. Poage be- came the parents of two children,-Paul, who is clerk of the circuit court in Boyd county ; and Judith, who is now the wife of Harry Brooks Vaughan, of Cincinnati, Ohio, where he is employed on the editorial staff of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Judge Poage was sum- moned to eternal rest on the 3d of June, 1904, at which time the city suffered the loss of one of its most loyal and public-spirited citi- zens, one whose highest ambition had ever been to foster progress and development and to be of service to his fellow men. Mrs. Poage is now living in Ashland, Kentucky.
Paul Poage was born at Ashland, January 1, 1882, and in this city he was reared and educated, his schooling consisting of such ad- vantages as were afforded in the public and parochial schools. After being graduated in the local high school he entered Washington & Lee University at Lexington, Virginia, where he was registered as a student for two years, at the expiration of which he was matriculated in Center College, at Danville, Kentucky, in the law department of which excellent in- stitution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1905, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. Immediately after graduation he resided at Lexington, Kentucky, for a time and he then returned to Ashland, where he began the practice of his profession. The day he opened his law office in this city he earned a fee of twenty-five dollars. He con- tinned in active practice until his election as clerk of the circuit court of Boyd county, in the fall of 1909, since which time he has devoted his entire attention to the responsi- bilities of his office. He is an uncompromis- ing Republican in his political proclivities and his future holds great promise for a splendid political career. He is a member of the Phi Kappa Psi college fraternity at Washington & Lee University, and is a member of the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks at Ashland. The religion of the Poage fam- ily has ever been of the Presbyterian de- nomination.
On the 6th of July, 1906, Mr. Poage was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Helen Bester, a native of Ironton, Ohio .. She is a daughter ยท of William J. Bester, who was formerly engaged in the iron business at
Ironton. To Mr. and Mrs. Poage has been born one daughter, Sarah Eliza.
JOHN J. K. MONTAGUE .- It is especially fitting that in a work giving the history of the men of the state and of many cities of that state, that the chief executive of one of those cities should have especial mention, and with that view it is with pleasure that the name of John J. K. Montague, the mayor of Catlettsburg, is presented to the readers of these biographies as a man who has met with creditable success in politics, business, social life and finances. A short resume of his life will be appropriate and meet with the ap- proval of his friends.
John J. K. Montague was born in Dover, Mason county, Kentucky, on May 4, 1849, the son of William W. and Mary S. ( Wat- son) Montague, natives of Cumberland county, Virginia, where they were reared, and they were married in Brown county, Ohio, in which place they resided a short time, next removing to Mason county, Ken- tucky, in 1837. The father was a dealer in tobacco in Virginia, where he also worked at carpentry. In 1850 he located near Cat- lettsburg, where he operated a small country store for several years and in 1870 was elected jailer of Boyd county, locating in Catlettsburg that same year, and helped the office for four years. He died in Catletts- burg in 1886, at the age of eighty-four years. When a young man he was captain of a mi- litia company for several years, but was never in active service, and was always known as captain and recognized as one of the best drill masters in this section. During the Civil war the Captain's sympathies were with the southern cause, but he opposed secession. He was a member of the Christian church, as was also his wife, who died at the age of eighty-four in 1898. They were the parents of eight children, three of whom are dead, the subject of this sketch being the seventh in order of birth ..
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